Novavax's COVID vaccine becomes the fifth jab to be approved for use in the EU

It was given the green light by the bloc's drugs regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), on Monday. Called Nuvaxovid, it is the fifth vaccine authorised in the EU after Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca/Oxford, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

Its manufacturer claims it can help win over vaccine sceptics.

Nuvaxovid uses a more conventional technology than those used for the other vaccines already in use — it is similar to the technology used in the decades-old hepatitis B and pertussis vaccines — and does not need to be stored at ultra-low temperatures.

The so-called protein "subunit" vaccine contains purified fragments of the pathogen which then trigger an immune response.

The jab is given as two injections three weeks apart.

"Novavax appreciates the (EMA's) positive opinion concerning our vaccine, and we look forward to a decision from the European Commission," said Stanley C. Erck, Novavax's CEO.

"An authorisation from the Commission would deliver the first protein-based vaccine to the EU during a critical time when we believe having choice among vaccines will lead to increased immunisation."

Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, an innovative technology that injects strands of genetic instructions into the body that tell the patient's cells what to make to fight the disease.

AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson use viral vector technology which uses a very common type of virus called adenovirus that has been modified to carry genetic information in the body to fight COVID.

Rare but serious side effects of heart inflammation have been reported with the mRNA vaccines and blood clots with the virus vector vaccines.

While large numbers of people received the COVID jabs in trials, "certain side effects may only emerge when millions of people are vaccinated," EMA said.

20/12/2021

https://www.euronews.com/